Mumbai: revamp of buildings on heritage list may be illegal

Hundreds of proposed heritage buildings redeveloped without the heritage committee’s nod have now come under the scanner.

In a note to the civic body, a copy of which is with HT, the state advocate general (AG) said permissions of all structures built without the committee’s permission should be nullified.

Agreeing to a long-standing demand by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), AG Darius Khambata said the committee must be consulted before the BMC approves such proposals.

Khambata said that not doing so has been a violation of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, 1966, thereby invalidating the permissions given by the BMC.

While there is no official record of the number of proposed heritage buildings that have been redeveloped, HT obtained internal civic estimates ,which pegged the figure at 329 buildings till September last year.

Civic sources said this figure has likely risen to at least 500.

BMC chief Sitaram Kunte confirmed the note, but refused to comment on it.

A senior civic official, however, said the BMC was ‘ grappling’ with the issue. “We are looking for legal options to ensure that these buildings are protected.”